Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Concordes are back on stage
60s band receive a top reception from their fans
The Concordes are flying high once again after the hit sixties band performed for the first time in 40 years at a special reunion gig in Coatbridge.
A sold-out crowd at Langloan’s Bank Social Club were treated to a night of top tunes from ex-members of the group in a show dedicated to their former bandmates who have sadly passed away.
The concert line-up consisted of lead vocalist Jim Millar, lead guitarist Danny Giblin, Tom Kenyon on bass and Davie McGinn on keyboard, supplemented by drummer Bobby Burns and Allan Mundell on rhythm.
The Concordes were formed by the late Jim Burke and Robert McGuigan and their friend Robert Lewis back in 1963 when they were all pupils at St Margaret’s High, with the school chaplain, Father Tom Connelly, naming the band after the famous supersonic aircraft which was being developed at that time.
The talented trio went on to establish themselves as one of the most popular bands on the Monklands circuit, wowing audiences across the district during the 60s and 70s.
The Concordes went through several line-up changes until the group hung up their instruments back in 1975.
Lead vocalist Jim Millar told the Advertiser what inspired him and several of his former bandmates to lift off The Concordes once again.
Coatbridge man Jim, 60, said: “The idea came about when we were at Jim’s [Burke] funeral last year and the band decided to get the ball rolling for the show.
“But little did we know at that time that we would see the loss of the other guys too. So we dedicated the reunion to Jim and the members of The Concordes sadly no longer with us – Hugh Mackrell, Robert McGuigan, Billy Dunlop and Geordie Muirhead.
“All of them played their part in making the band successful and performed with some of the biggest names in music, The Move, Wayne Fontana and the Mind Benders, the Walker Brothers, Ambrose Slade, who became Slade, and Jimmy James and the Vagabonds.”
New and old fans of The Concordes turned out in force to rock the night away and support the band at the reunion gig which was so well received that planning for another is already underway.
Jim continued: “The tickets for the reunion were all gone before we could even put them on sale in the Bank Social Club and the gig was just pure nostalgia. It was like old times and the feedback we received afterwards was amazing.
“We had other ex-members of the band in the audience, including Robert Harold and Bobby Lewis. Ian Mackin, an original member of the band, and ex-lead guitarist Arthur McWilliams were unfortunately unable to attend.
“There were several magical moments which included family members joining us on stage. I did a duet with my grandson Konner, Jim’s [Burke] daughter Louise performed two songs and lead guitarist Danny Giblin’s daughter, Sarah, performed with her partner Christian.
“The place was rocking and there was a big clamour for us to do another show. It won’t be a regular thing but we are looking into doing one more, possibly next year.”
Although the reunion gig saw The Concordes take flight for the first time in decades, singer Jim has remained prolific within the music industry – and showbiz success runs in the family.
Brother Mark is one of the world’s best-known and most successful comic book writers, with several of his works being adapted into Hollywood blockbusters.
Jim spoke of his pride for his super sibling – and his own love of performing: “Mark is doing fantastically well – not bad at all for a wee guy from Townhead. Despite all of his success Stateside, I still get to see him quite a lot and I’m very proud of his achievements.
“We both took different steps in the entertainment industry but enjoy what we do immensely.
“I haven’t stopped singing since my days with The Concordes and do a lot of cabaret under my stage name Paul French, It’s a blast!”
Profits from the show were donated to Cancer Research, The Chest and Heart Stroke Foundation and Alzheimer’s Scotland.
The idea came about when we were at Jim’s funeral last year